clarify
Americanverb (used with object)
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clarifies,
present (3rd person singular)
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clarified,
past participle, past
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clarifying
present participle
-
to make (an idea, statement, etc.) clear or intelligible; to free from ambiguity.
- Synonyms:
- resolve, elucidate, illuminate, explain
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to remove solid matter from (a liquid); to make into a clear or pellucid liquid.
-
to free (the mind, intelligence, etc.) from confusion; revive.
The short nap clarified his thoughts.
verb (used without object)
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clarifies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
clarified,
past participle, past
-
clarifying
present participle
verb
-
to make or become clear or easy to understand
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to make or become free of impurities
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to make (fat, butter, etc) clear by heating, etc, or (of fat, etc) to become clear as a result of such a process
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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clarificationnoun
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clarifiernoun
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nonclarifiedadjective
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unclarifiedadjective
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unclarifyingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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clarifysimple
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clarifiessimple
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have clarifiedperfect
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has clarifiedperfect
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am clarifyingprogressive
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are clarifyingprogressive
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is clarifyingprogressive
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have been clarifyingperfect progressive
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has been clarifyingperfect progressive
Past
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clarifiedsimple
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had clarifiedperfect
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was clarifyingprogressive
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were clarifyingprogressive
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had been clarifyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of clarify
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French clarifier, from Late Latin clārificāre, equivalent to Latin clār(us) “clear” + -ificāre -ify
Explanation
Clarify means to clear up confusion and make it all understandable. In a heart-breaking text, she clarified that she never ever wanted to see him again. It also means to remove impurities in a liquid; you clarify butter by gently heating it. Clarify and clear are related, of course, and clear means you can see right through it. If you clarify your intention or your meaning, others will understand it clearly. If you aren't clear at the outset, you might find the need to clarify what you want later.
Vocabulary lists containing clarify
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Their results clarify how silver nanocatalysts improve solid oxide cell performance and show that both the location and mechanism of oxygen reactions change depending on how the cell is being used.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026
But that may prove difficult, as pressure grows on the league to clarify exactly who is eligible to play.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
She said information disseminated by local organizations and churches has helped to clarify things.
From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026
She has stressed that Etsy needs to clarify its long-term vision to understand where the business is headed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
I pause, and then try to clarify my question so it doesn’t sound like criticism.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
The impact is muted because it instantly clarifies how needlessly trivial everything before it was.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The bill, which clarifies the regulatory structure around digital assets, is making slow progress through Congress.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
“This legal document acts as a cohabitation property agreement and clarifies finances to avoid lawsuits over issues like California cohabitation law alimony,” the law firm adds.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 16, 2026
The ruling clarifies that councils remain responsible for children with EHCPs who are "ordinarily resident" in their area, even if they are temporarily overseas.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
“But this is not, I suppose, a matter for the police. A civil, not a legal, matter,” she clarifies.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
He also clarified that he had run 600 miles in 12 days with rest days in between.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Cornell University has clarified that its dorm kitchens are for cooking food — not butchering bears.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Approximately 1,000 prisoners will now not be released early following the revision to the scheme, he clarified.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Ireland said Rail Events “is really proud to welcome all guests to a great experience” and later clarified that it doesn’t have “a personal connection” to Rowling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“It sounded like a bear choking,” Emmett clarified.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
A spokeswoman for Cornyn was quoted by US media as saying he had reached an agreement with the Department of Justice over "permanently terminating" the anti-weaponization fund and clarifying the scope of the audit settlement.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, external with Josh Horowitz, Holland hinted that a new chapter was on the horizon, albeit not clarifying when.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
On Monday, after a host of U.S. companies including Nvidia and Microsoft signed a letter showing their support for open models, Amodei published a letter clarifying his position on the heated debate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
In that respect, Hemani may prove to be the most clarifying post-Bruen decision yet.
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026
He went on to bequeath little bits of money and jewelry to each of them, never clarifying which one he considered his Koh-i-noor.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
